Takeru Kobayashi hot dog records: How many hot dogs did Kobayshi eat during dominant Nathan's run?

In every sport, there is a passing from one legend to another. Before Michael Jordan dominated the NBA, there was Larry Bird. Before Tom Brady took over the NFL, there was Joe Montana.

Before Joey Chestnut grabbed a stranglehold of the hot dog eating competitions, there was Takeru Kobayashi. 

Kobayashi was the man to beat in hot dog eating contests before Chestnut emerged onto the scene, taking the Japanese eater's place atop the competitive eating world. Now, the two former foes are going head-to-head once again, with Netflix putting on the "ultimate wiener-takes-all competition" Sept. 2. 

While Chestnut is the record holder in the event now, that wasn't always the case. Kobayashi used to hold the mark for most hot dogs consumed in an eating contest. 

MORE: What happened to Takeru Kobayashi?

Here is more to know about Kobayashi's records and his previous performances at the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. 

Takeru Kobayashi hot dog records

Chestnut currently holds the world record for hot dogs eaten in a contest with 76. He set that mark in 2021, beating his previous bests which he set in 2019 (74) and 2020 (75). 

Two decades prior, Kobayashi burst onto the Nathan's scene in 2001 when he devoured 50 dogs to break the previous record of 25. By 2006, Kobayashi improved the record to 53.75 hot dogs. 

In 2011, Kobayashi once again set a world record with 69 nice hot dogs consumed, "beating out" Chestnut by one dog. However it comes with a major catch — Kobayashi set the mark at a rooftop bar, not at the Nathan's event. He was banned from the competition due to a contract dispute, and instead competed on his own.

Kobayashi's record was officiated by two ordained judges, so it was considered legitimate. It ultimately didn't matter, as the record would eventually be broken by Chestnut in 2016 when he wolfed down 70 hot dogs.

Takeru Kobayashi hot dog eating contest results

Kobayashi competed at the Nathan's Hot Dog East Contest from 2001 to 2009. 

In those nine competitions, Kobayashi won the first six. However, in 2007, that's when Chestnut first emerged victorious over his Japanese counterpart. Kobayashi went on to finish second behind Chestnut again in 2008 and 2009. 

In 2010, a contract dispute with Major League Eating, which sanctions the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, resulted in Kobayashi being banned from the Fourth of July tradition on Coney Island. Since then, he has not appeared in a Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest.